I’m writing this with the windows open (finally!), listening to the wrens sing their first songs of the summer. Wrens have always been my favorites. It’s the first bird song I learned to recognize and the one I listen for every spring.
There’s something about those tiny birds, singing their hearts out in the most warbly of ways, that just fills me with all the possibilities of this time of year. They’ve been the soundtrack to my new beginnings- graduations, weddings, new babies, and new jobs.
This year, they mark the end of my sabbatical but the beginning of a new, deeper understanding of my work. As of next week, I’ll have completed a giant undertaking- The Complete Guide to the Critical Skills Classroom, available in paperback, Kindle, pdf, or ebook – as well as a set of classroom visits that have been thinking hard about how we can tap into what Alex Shevrin called “radical inspiration” in our practice. How can we bring back the playful energy that comes from taking our work seriously without taking ourselves too seriously?
I had a teacher once who called May the month of Maybe. Maybe you’ll do this, maybe you’ll do that- it’s the time to let possibilities wash over you. Maybe this summer you’ll take a class or start a degree. Maybe you’ll plant tomatoes, start birdwatching (don’t sleep on Merlin if you do!), finally submit that idea to Edutopia, or start your own TikTok.
Explore what maybe could happen if you went down one path or what maybe migh happen if you went down another- with the explicit instruction that you only consider the upside, that you give yourself permission to- just for a few minutes- ignore the darker possibilities.
What could be possible if you stepped courageously into your maybe with your whole heart and mind?
This month, I’m sharing some resources to get you thinking about what your Maybe. No matter what you decide, we’re here to help if we can. If there’s one thing we understand at Antioch, it’s the power of possibilities. Let me know what you decide!
Best-
PS- Interested in talking about our degrees, classes, certificates, or workshops? Just contact me to set up a time to talk!
Sign up for Connections: Tools, News, and Inspiration for Teachers Like You